Vatican City: The Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication has announced an international conference focused on Artificial Intelligence and its growing impact on society. The event, titled “Preserving Human Voices and Faces,” will take place on May 21 at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome as part of activities linked to the World Day of Social Communications.
The conference is being organised in collaboration with the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the John XXIII Foundation. It is expected to bring together academics, institutional leaders, technology experts, and journalists for a day of dialogue and reflection on the opportunities and challenges created by AI in today’s world.
According to the organisers, the title of the conference reflects the message of Pope Leo XIV for this year’s World Day of Social Communications. The gathering aims to explore how modern technology can continue to serve humanity while protecting personal identity, human dignity, and authentic communication.
The Vatican said the meeting will focus on the need to preserve the human element in communication at a time when Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the way people interact, receive information, and build relationships. Participants will discuss how technology affects individuals, communities, and nations, while also considering the ethical responsibilities linked to technological development.
Organisers explained that the conference is intended to answer the Pope’s appeal to “cherish the gift of communication as the deepest truth of humanity,” stressing that every technological innovation should remain centred on the human person.
The event will be held throughout the day in the main hall of the Pontifical Urbaniana University. It will open with addresses by Paolo Ruffini and Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça.
The Vatican has increasingly spoken about the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence in recent years, warning against the risks of misinformation, manipulation, and the weakening of genuine human relationships. Church leaders have repeatedly encouraged governments, technology companies, educators, and media professionals to ensure that AI serves the common good rather than replacing human responsibility and creativity.
The upcoming conference is expected to continue those discussions by encouraging cooperation between experts from different fields. Through dialogue and reflection, organisers hope the gathering will help promote a vision of technology that respects human values and protects the unique voice and face of every person in society.